Vacuum-regulator machine



L. LE BRAS.

VACUUM REGULATOR MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1920,

1,384,724. Patented July 12, 1921.

WNW" ZJI-ZAM abtozmq UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS LE ERAS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO VACO MANUFACTURING CORPO- RATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

VACUUM-REGULATOR MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 12, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LoUIs LE Thus, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at 219 West 66th street, New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Vacuum- Regulator Machine.

This invention relates to vacuum regulating machines, and particularly to such machines for use in supplying liquid fuel to internal combustion engines and other liquid fuel consuming devices or apparatus.

The invention consists in a vacuum regulator machine com rising a vacuum chamber provided with a iaphragm at or near one end, and a liquid feeding chamber, said chambers being in liquid communication by suitable means, such as a valved tube or bypass, and the vacuum chamber being in communication with a source of liquid supply and also with a source of suction, so that when the vacuum chamber is subjected to suction the vacuum created therein will cause the liquid to flow into it and accumulate upon the diaphragm till it is of sufficient weight to operate the diaphragm and thereby shut off the suction and open the vacuum chamber to the atmosphere recurrently, the feeding chamber being in communication with the external air at all times and also in communication with a carbureter or other object to be supplied with the liquid, as I will proceed now to explain and finally claim.

In the accompanying drawin s illustrating the invention, in the severa fi res of which like parts are similarly deslgnated, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of the machine. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the valve detached.

The machine or apparatus comprises an upper, preferably cylindrical vessel 1, herein designated the vacuum chamber, and a similar lower cylindrical vessel 2, herein designated the li uid feeding chamber. These vessels 1 an 2 may be made of various sizes and dimensions to suit the installation or use contemplated. They are preferably united end to end b means of flanges secured by a plurality 0 bolts 3, or otherwise, and a diaphragm 4 is preferably located between the joints of the vessels 1 and: 2 and made air-tight therein by means of gaskets 5 and 6, or other means. This diaphragm is made of any suitable material such as spring steel plate, of suitable form, preferably sllghtly convex, and rendered rust-proof by any suitable means. Preferably centrally of the diaphragm is attached a vacuum communicating tube 7, of suitable diameter and affording communication between the upper and lower portions of the vacuum chamber 1 as formed by the diaphragm and having holes 8 and 9 for this purpose near its u per end. At its lower end and below the dlaphragm this tube opens into the lower portion 10 of the vacuum space 1. The vacuum communicating tube is secured liquid-tight to the diaphragm by any suitable means, such as nuts 11 and 12 arranged on opposite sides of the diaphragm and threaded on the tube. A septum 13 is arranged below the diaphragm and preferably secured air-tight to the wall of the lower cylindrical part 2 thus forming the liquid feeding chamber and serving as the dividing wall between the vacuum chamber and the said feeding chamber. The vacuum chamber is in communication with a source of suction, such as an inlet manifold of a gasolene or other internal combustion engine or other source of suction, through a central tube 14 passing through and secured airtight in the septum 13 and joined to an independent outlet 15 arranged in the bottom of the fuel feeding chamber 2 in a suitable manner to prevent communication between said tube and the liquid feeding chamber.

The liquid feeding chamber 2 is at all times in communication with the external atmosphere through a tube 16 which runs the height of the upper vessel 1 and opens into the lower vessel 2 in order to permit the liquid in the lower vessel to escape by gravity.

The portion of the vacuum chamber 1 above the diaphragm is in communication with the liquid feeding chamber 2 through the tube or by-pass 17, provided with a check valve 18 located at its lower extremity inside the vessel 2 and closing outwardly therefrom. This valve 18 may be made of some light metal, such as aluminum, and seats upon any suitable seat, such as the member 18' to which the tube 17 is joined, which seat may be vertical, or inclined as shown to facilitate the closing of said valve. This member 18 may be of any suitable design and may be bolted, as shown, to a plate 19 secured to the side wall of the vessel 2 so that the tube 17 may be intimately joined to the vessel 2 by screwing the member 18 tightly against the gasket 20 by means of bolts 21.

The upper portion of the vacuum chamber 1 is provided with means for communicating with the external atmosphere, same being shown as an opening 22 in its top, formed as a valve seat for cooperation with the atmospheric valve 23 which is carried by the vacuum communicating tube 7, and this valve may be made adjustable in the tube, as by means of screw threads, as shown Or otherwise.

The vacuum chamber is also in communication with the main fuel supply tank or reservoir (not shown) by means of an inlet 24 soldered or otherwise secured in the top of the vacuum chamber, and provided with a strainer 25 to arrest any sediment which may be in the fuel and prevent it from entering the vacuum chamber. An inlet tube 26 extends into the vacuum chamber from the inlet 24: and is constructed in any suitable way to prevent the possible entrance of liquid into the vacuum communicating tube 7 through the holes 8 and 9 therein, and as here shown, the discharge end of the tube 26 is beveled, or it is otherwise suitably disposed so. as to deflect the incoming liquid toward the wall of the chamber; and this or an equivalent arrangement also prevents the incoming liquid from striking directly upon the diaphragm. The main fuel supply tank or reservoir referred to may be andgenerally is located ata lower level than the fuel consuming device.

The atmospheric valve 23 is provided with an extension forming asuction needle valve 27 which is adjustable with the atmospheric valve in said tube 7. This valve 27 is adapted to close the tube 14 practically simultaneously with the opening of the atmospheric valve 23 when the diaphragm is pressed downwardly by the weight of the liquid, or the combination of the vacuum and the weight of the liquid acting jointly, it being obvious that restricting the orifices S and 9 will cause a greater vacuum in the lower portion of the vacuum chamber than in the portion above the diaphragm, or either one acting alone on the diaphragm The valves 23 and 27 may be provided with any suitable means, such as the squared end 28, projecting outside of the vacuum chamber by means of which the atmospheric valve and also the vacuum control valve may be adjusted in the tube 7. The means'of adjustment should be such as to hold the needle valve 27 quite tightly and thus prevent it from becoming loose from vibration;

The feeding chamber 2 is in, communication with the'carbureter or other liquid fuel tion is substantially as follows:-When the source of vacuum, such as the gasolene or other internal combustion engine, is in operation, the suction draws the air from the vacuum space 10 through the tube 14, and at the same time draws the air from the portion of the vacuum chamber above the diaphragm through the holes 8 and 9 in the upper end of the vacuum communicating tube 7, thereby keeping the vacuum both above and below the diaphragm substantially equal, and as a result the motion of the diaphragm is normally independent of the suction, it being understood that flexible Or resilient diaphragm will be provided which will require the weight of the super posed liquid or the combination of the difference of vacuum pressure and the liquid as the case may be, to depressit suiliciently to close the tube 14. The surface of the atmospheric valve 28' exposed to atmospheric pressure is so small that the pressure resulting therefrom is practically null and has no effect upon the movement of the diaphragm.

The diaphragm being in its upper or normal position, the suction creates a vacuum in the vacuum chamber, atmospheric pressure on the fuel' contained in the main fuel supply tank or reservoir forces the fuel from such tank or reservoir through the inlet 24' into the vacuum vchamber. When the weight of the fuel above the diaphragm or the combination of the weight and difference in vacuum pressure is sufiicient to overcome the effective resistance of the diaphragm, then the diaphragm moves downward carrying with it the tube 7, the atmospheric valve which vopens to the external atmosphere, and also the valve 27 which closes the suction tube 14. The at mospheric valve 23 now being open, atmospheric pressure is established in the vacuum 7 chamber, thereby breaking the vacuum and causingthe inflow of liquid through the intake26 to cease and at the same time the vacuum valve 27gcloses the source of suction and the liquidin the upper portion of the vacuum chamber then enters the by pass 17 by gravity, and, pushing open the check valve 18 flows into the lower or feedber is regulated, as already indicated, by

providing a diaphragm of the required effec tive resistance, and adjusting the atmospheric valve 23 and the vacuum valve 27 in relation to the diaphragm by the meansprovided therefor. c

When the fuel in the vacuum chamber 1 drops to such a level that its weight is not suflicicnt to overcome the resistance of the diaphragm, the diaphragm returns to its normal position and carries with it the central tube 14 and the atmospheric valve 23 which then seats, also the vacuum needle valve 27 which then unseats. When this takes place, the suction again comes into play and the check valve 18 seats under the pressure of the atmosphere in the chamber 2, and the vacuum is reestablished and the liquid again flows into the vacuum chamber from the main supply tank or reservoir. The check valve 18 being closed during the suction period, the fuel contained in the chamber 2 flows to the carburetor or other source of consumption.

My invention may be used in connection with gasolene engines on automobiles, aeroplanes, motor boats, and other apparatus, and will operate efiiciently regardless of inclination, or swaying, or vibration of the apparatus in which installed, and it is to be particularly noted that it requires no float. Obviously the invention is not limited to its application to any particular kind of apparatus or machine and is useful generally for feeding liquid for consumption as a fuel.

Although I have herein shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not consider the invention as so limited, since various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle of the invention as hereinafter claimed. Nor is the term vacuum regulator machine to be taken or understood as a limitation excepting as the operation of the machine is effected by the making and breaking of a vacuum.

What I claim is 1. In a vacuum regulator machine, a vessel forming a vacuum chamber provided with a flexible diaphragm at or near one end of said chamber, means to connect said vacuum chamber with a source of liquid supply, means to connect said vacuum chamber with a source of suction, means to connect said vacuum chamber with the atmosphere, and means whereby the means providing the said source of suction and the said connection with the atmosphere are controlled by the action of said diaphragm under changing conditions in the vacuum chamber.

2. In a vacuum regulator machine, a vessel forming a vacuum chamber provided with a flexible diaphragm at or near one end of said chamber, means to connect said vacuum chamber with a source of liquid supply, means to connect said vacuum chamber with a source of suction to create a vacuum therein, means to connect said vacuum chamber with the atmosphere, and

means whereby the means providing the said source of suction and the said connection with the atmosphere are controlled by the action of said diaphragm resulting from the weight of a liquid accumulated thereon.

I). In a vacuum regulator machine, a vesscl i'orming a vacuum chamber provided with a flexible diaphragm at or near one end of said chamber. means to connect said vacuum chamber with a source of liquid supply. means to connect said vacuum cham her with a source of suction to create a vacuum therein, means to connect said vacuum chamber with the atmosphere, and means whereby the means providing the said source of suction and the said connection with the atmosphere are controlled by the action of said diaphragm resulting from the combination of the weight of the liquid accumulated thereon and the difference in the amount of vacuum on opposite sides of the diaphragm.

4. In a vacuum regulating machine. a vessel forming a vacuum chamber provided with a flexible diaphragm at or near one end thereof, means to connect said vacuum chamber with a source of liquid supply, means to connect said vacuum chamber with a source of suction, and means to connect said vacuum chamber with the atmosphere, a feeding chamber in controlled communication with said vacuum chamber, and means whereby the means providing the said source of suction and the said connection with the atmosphere are controlled by the action of said diaphragm under changing conditions in the vacuum chamber.

5. I11 a vacuum regulator machine, a vessel forming a vacuum chamber provided with a diaphragm at or near one end, and another vessel forming a liquid feeding chamber, means to provide and control liquid communication between said chambers, means to connect the vacuum chamber with a source of liquid supply, and other means to connect it with a source of suction to create a vacuum therein, the combination and arrangement being such that when a suflicient weight of liquid has accumulated upon the diaphragm the latter will operate to arrest the suction and the liquid will flow into the feeding chamber and thence to the object to be fed with liquid.

6. In a vacuum regulator machine. a ves sel constituting a vacuum chamber, having an air-inlet, and an air-exhausting outlet. a diaphragm interposed between the air-inlet and said outlet, means carried and operated by the diaphragm for simultaneously opening the inlet and closing the outlet and vice versa, and means to admit liquid to said vessel when a vacuum is established in said vessel, another vessel constituting a liquid feeding chamber, means to afford liquid communication from the vacuum chamber to the feeding chamber when the vacuum is broken, and means to distribute the liquid from the feeding chamber to the object using it.

7. In a vacuum regulator machine, a vessel constituting a vacuum chamber, having an air-inlet at one end, and an airexhausting outlet at its other end, a diaphragm interposed between the air inlet and said outlet, means carried and operated by the diaphragm for simultaneously opening the inlet and closing the outlet and vice versa, and means to admit liquid to said vessel when a vacuum is established in said vessel, another vessel having always open communication with the external air and constituting a liquid feeding chamber, means to afford liquid communication from the vacuum chamber to the feeding chamber when the vacuum is broken, means responsive to variations in pressure to open and close the liquid communication means between the chambers, and means to distribute the liquid from the feeding chamber to the object using it at all times.

8. In a vacuum regulator machine, a vacuum vessel. and a feeding vessel, means for establishing liquid communication therebetween, means for establishing communication between one of said vessels and a source of suction, and independent means for es tablishing communication between each of said vessels and the external atmosphere, and a diaphragm in the vacuum vessel responsive to variations in the superposed Weight and adapted to control the admission of liquid and air to the vacuum vessel.

9. In a vacuum regulator machine, an upper vacuum vessel and a lower liquid feeding vessel, a diaphragm arranged at or near one end of said vacuum vessel, a tube mounted on and carried by said diaphragm, a connection between said vacuum vessel and a source of suction, the wall of the vacuum vessel provided with an opening to the external air, and a valve carried by said tube and adapted to simultaneously close said opening and open said suction connection and vice versa incident to the movements of the diaphragm.

10. In a vacuum regulator machine, a vacuum vessel having an. air inlet, a dia phragm arranged in said vessel, a tube carried by said diaphragm, and an air inlet valve adjustably mounted in said tube and adapted to vary the responsivity of said diaphragm.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS LE BRAS, WVitnesses:

ROBERT H. R-HOADES, GILBERT G. CLARK. 

